Truck Hazardous Material Spills

The highways and roads of America are filled with large semi and 18-wheeler trucks that transport hazardous materials every day. While the majority of the time these trucks transport hazardous materials without any problems or accidents, there are some instances when accidents occur and the hazardous materials that are being transported spill or come loose, causing serious injuries and even death to people on the road.

It is not overly difficult for a semi-truck to stop suddenly and cause a collision with a car, which can hit a wet line and in turn puncture a pipe that spills gas or other noxious chemicals onto a roadway. If this happens, it also likely that a fire can erupt, which will create even more destruction for those on the road. Given that so often semi-trucks are carrying gas or other kinds of liquids, these liquids can cause an accident in a couple of different ways.

First, the truck could create an accident because it cannot control the liquids.

Second, after the accident occurs, there could be a much more serious issue if the accident causes the liquids to come out of the tanker truck and onto the roadway. It is often, however, the exposure to chemicals and other liquids that are very flammable and hazardous that cause people problems and leads to their injuries. If your body comes into contact with these chemicals or substances, you could be permanently injured.

There are very specific laws designed to protect people from spills from trucks and exposure to other hazardous materials. There are restrictions on what materials can be transported.

Some materials cannot be transported across some areas because the population is so dense that if there was an accident, tens or hundreds of thousands of people could be affected. There are also restrictions on the time of day the materials can be moved.

Common Hazardous Material Spill Accident Injuries

If you have been in an accident with a truck that has had chemicals that have spilled, chances are you facing serious injuries. These vehicles are usually quite large, larger than normal cars or SUVs most commonly on the road. The most common injuries associated with hazardous material spills are:

• Thermal burns to the body
• Chemical burns to the body
• Being exposed to cancer-inducing chemicals
• Explosions that can lead to death and loss of limbs
• Loss of hearing and sight
• Poisoning
• Breathing problems from inhaling chemicals

If you have suffered any of these injuries, the likelihood is not good that these injuries will resolve on their own. In most instances, you will have to see a medical professional to help you recover. Aside from primary care doctors, the most common kinds of healthcare providers to treat people who have been in accidents with trucks are osteopaths, physiatrists, chiropractors, massage therapists, and physical therapists.